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TB and Hispanic or Latino PersonsEspañol (Spanish)|Print										Related Pages
										Return to Main MenuIn 2021, a total of 7,882 TB cases were reported in the United States; however, Hispanic or Latino persons* continue to be affected by TB at a greater rate compared to White persons.
Several important factors contribute to the higher rates of TB among racial and ethnic minority groups, including Hispanic or Latino persons. These factors include being born in a country with a high rate of TB disease or travel to a country with a high rate of TB disease.Low Resolution VideoBy the Numbers
This bar chart shows the percentage of TB cases by race/ethnicity for 2021. Non-Hispanic Asian persons represented 36.0% of total cases in 2021, followed by Hispanic persons (30.6%), non-Hispanic Black or African American persons (18.0%), and non-Hispanic White persons (11.2%).  All other race groups (American Indian or Alaska Native persons, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander persons, and non-Hispanic multiple race persons) represented approximately 1% of cases each.  Persons with unknown or missing race/ethnicity information comprised less than 1% of all cases.View LargerCloseThis bar chart shows the percentage of TB cases by race/ethnicity for 2021. Non-Hispanic Asian persons represented 36.0% of total cases in 2021, followed by Hispanic persons (30.6%), non-Hispanic Black or African American persons (18.0%), and non-Hispanic White persons (11.2%).  All other race groups (American Indian or Alaska Native persons, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander persons, and non-Hispanic multiple race persons) represented approximately 1% of cases each.  Persons with unknown or missing race/ethnicity information comprised less than 1% of all cases.Download Image[PNG]
In 2021, U.S. state, local, and territorial health agencies reported a total of 7,882 TB cases to CDC.
TB disease was reported in 2,410 Hispanic or Latino persons in the United States, accounting for 30.6% of all people reported with TB nationally.
The rate of TB disease among Hispanic or Latino persons is 3.8 cases per 100,000 persons.
The TB case rate is 9 times higher for Hispanic or Latino persons than for non-Hispanic White persons.
Read more in Reported Tuberculosis in the United States, 2021.TB case rates are 9 times higher among Hispanic or Latino persons that White persons.
Prevention Challenges
TB is a challenging disease to diagnose, treat, and control. Dwindling resources and loss of public health capacity, including access to care, and maintaining clinical and public health expertise, add to the challenge. It is critical to reach those populations at highest risk for TB, and to identify and implement innovative strategies to improve diagnosis and treatment.
Ending TB will require a dual approach of maintaining and strengthening current TB control priorities, while increasing efforts to identify and treat latent TB infection in populations at risk for TB disease.

Similar to other racial and ethnic minority groups, Hispanic or Latino persons face a number of challenges that contribute to higher rates of TB. Challenges may include:
**Testing and Diagnosis**
Many people born outside of the United States have been given a vaccine for TB called BCG. Vaccination with BCG may cause a false positive reaction to a TB skin test. A positive reaction to a TB skin test might be due to the BCG vaccine itself or due to infection with TB bacteria. TB blood tests are the preferred method of TB testing for people who have received the BCG vaccine. TB blood tests are not affected by prior BCG vaccination and do not give a false-positive result in people who have received the BCG vaccine.Hispanic or Latino Persons**Treatment Duration and Completion**
Treatment for TB disease can be lengthy. Patients are often unable or reluctant to take medication for several months. For people with TB disease, inadequate treatment can lead to treatment failure, relapse, ongoing transmission, and development of drug resistance.
For people with latent TB infection, treatment for a condition with no symptoms of illness may not be a priority.**Socioeconomic Factors**
People experiencing poverty, including those with limited access to quality health care, employment opportunities, housing, and transportation, and those who disproportionately experience adverse health outcomes. These factors can directly or indirectly increase the risk for TB disease and present barriers to treatment.
Language and cultural barriers, including health knowledge, stigma associated with the disease, values, and beliefs may also place certain populations at higher risk. Stigma may deter people from seeking medical care or follow up care.**HIV and Other Medical Conditions**TB remains a serious threat, especially for people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). People with HIV are more likely than people who do not have HIV to get sick with other infections and diseases, including TB.
Without treatment, as with other opportunistic infections, HIV and TB can shorten the life of the person infected.
In addition to HIV, other underlying medical conditions may increase the risk that latent TB infection will progress to TB disease. For example, the risk is higher in people with diabetes, substance abuse (including injection of illegal drugs), silicosis, or those undergoing medical treatments with corticosteroids.** Note: Persons who identified as Hispanic or Latino were categorized as “Hispanic or Latino,” regardless of self-reported race. Persons who did not identify as Hispanic or Latino were categorized by self-reported race; if more than one race was reported, the person was categorized as “Multiple race.”*Patient Education MaterialsTB Personal Survivor Stories (Spanish)
Patient Education Materials Series (English, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese)
Questions and Answers About Tuberculosis (available in multiple languages)
12-Dose Regimen for Latent TB Infection-Patient Education Brochure & Medication Tracker (English, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Marshallese, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese)
Take on TB Infographic (English, Spanish)
Video: 5 Things to Know about TB (English, Spanish)Related Links2021 TB Statistics (Spanish)
Trends in Tuberculosis, 2021
Reported Tuberculosis in the United States, 2021
Disparities in HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STDs, and TB
NCHHSTP AtlasPlus
CDC en español
Find TB Resources
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							Last Reviewed:  November 10, 2022						Source: 	Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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No. 2, 2023TB Notes. No. 1, 2023TB Notes, No. 4, 2022TB Notes, No. 3, 2022TB Notes, No. 2, 2022TB Notes, No. 1, 2022TB Notes, No. 4, 2021TB Notes, No. 3, 2021TB Notes, No. 2, 2021TB Notes, No. 1, 2021Pamphlets, Brochures, Bookletsplus iconQuestions and AnswersPatient Education SeriesTuberculosis - Get the FactsTuberculosis - The Connection between TB and HIV12-Dose Regimen for Latent TB Infection-Patient Education BrochurePostersplus iconMantoux Tuberculin Skin Test Wall ChartWorld TB DayThink TBStop TBTake on TBReports & Articlesplus iconDTBE Authored Journal ArticlesTuberculosis Laboratory Aggregate ReportsSlide Setsplus iconIntroduction to TuberculosisEpidemiology of Tuberculosis Among Non-U.S.​–Born Persons in the United States, 1993–2016Self-Study Modules on Tuberculosis, 1-5 Slide SetsThe Tuberculosis (TB) in Correctional Settingsplus iconFacilitator GuideIntroduction to TB GenotypingEpidemiology of Tuberculosis in Correctional Facilities, United States, 1993-2017Prevention and Control of Tuberculosis in Correctional and Detention FacilitiesGuidelines for Preventing the Transmission of M. TB in Health care SettingsInvestigation of Contacts of Persons with Infectious TBEpidemiology of Pediatric Tuberculosis in the United StatesTargeted Tuberculosis Testing and Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis InfectionElectronic Tools & ResourcesWeb-Based Courses & Webinarsplus iconTB 101 for Health Care WorkersContent SyndicationInfographicsplus iconSocial Media GraphicsCustomizable Take on TB Infographic with InstructionsEventsWorld TB Dayplus iconU.S. TB ChampionsHistoryFeaturesplus iconTB Risk FactorsTreating Latent TB Infection with Short-Course RegimensWorld Tuberculosis (TB) Day 2021World Tuberculosis (TB) Day 2020Linksplus iconState TB Control OfficesAbout Usplus iconMission Statement and Activitiesplus iconDTBE Strategic PlanNational TB Program ObjectivesOrganization ChartAdvisory Groupsplus iconFederal TB Task Force To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: Email Address			What's this?				Submit


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